The eight-year-old girl injured in a double shooting in west London was in a car with her parents and two-year-old sibling when a gunman opened fire, police have revealed.
Her 34-year-old father has been left with potentially life-changing injuries and the girl was undergoing surgery on Monday but is in a stable condition, the Metropolitan Police said.
The pair were hurt in Southern Row, Ladbroke Grove, west London, just after 5.30pm on Sunday.
Speaking at the scene of the shooting on Monday, Superintendent Owen Renowden said: “Last night at approximately 5.30pm we received numerous 999 calls to Southern Row reporting that shots had been fired, that a number of people in a vehicle had been injured.
“We immediately dispatched units to the scene, including local officers from the emergency response teams on the borough, supported by armed officers from the specialist firearms command.
“On arrival, officers located a 34-year-old man and an eight-year-old girl who had sustained serious gunshot injuries.
“Also present in the car were a two-year-old child and a 32-year-old woman who were thankfully unharmed.”
Thanking members of the public who came to help the family, he also revealed that a 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Sharon, who was in the area to visit her mother, told the PA news agency: “The guy was shooting directly into a car.
“I was literally coming out of the exit to my mum’s block of flats and as I was going out I saw a guy shooting into the car multiple times.
“He was firing directly, like at close range, as if you’re standing to open a door, they were shooting directly into it.
“I was completely in shock and I just ran back up the stairs because I was really scared.
“Then I looked and I heard screaming afterwards, and then people coming out to call the police.”
Sharon, who did not wish to give her surname, added: “I’ve noticed in the last several years, it has become a lot more unsafe for the people here.”
Another witness, aged 64, who spoke to Metro, described the girl’s mother shouting.
“I heard shots, and then a woman shouting, ‘My baby, my baby’s been shot’… it makes me sick to think about it now.
“There were four or five shots, there was screaming, it’s horrible. A neighbour went out with a duvet to cover the injured.”
A woman living near the scene, who did not want to be named, said she was “scared” after the shooting.
She was in her kitchen cooking and thought fireworks were going off, before armed police arrived and she discovered what had happened.
Local MP Joe Powell said several incidents in the area recently had left residents in fear.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the Labour politician who represents Kensington and Bayswater, said: “These senseless acts of violence have no place on our streets.
“I know residents in the local community will be rightly concerned for their safety after several recent incidents in the neighbourhood.
“We must work together to better prevent these horrific crimes from happening, and hold those responsible to account.”
In August in a separate incident, 15-year-old Rene Graham was shot dead streets away from the scene of Sunday’s shooting, at an event in the run up to Notting Hill Carnival.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Renowden appealed for witnesses to come forward, saying: “This is an appalling incident that has left two people seriously injured, including a young girl who thankfully is in a stable condition this morning.
“I am appealing to the public who may have been in the area at the time of the shooting. Did you hear any gunshots around 5.30pm yesterday evening? Did you see anyone fleeing from the area?
“We are keen to hear from anyone who may have any information surrounding this incident. Your information matters, no matter how insignificant you may think it is.”
Witnesses can contact police on 101, giving the reference CAD5238/24NOV, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
Published: by Radio NewsHub
